HOW TO GROW FOXGLOVES (DIGITALIS):

WARNING:  All parts of the foxglove plant contain highly toxic alkaloids. In fact, the woolly foxglove (Digitalis lanata) is commercially grown as the source of digoxin, the widely used heart drug, which is administered to patients with weakened heart muscles to strengthen or normalize an irregular heartbeat.

The Foxglove is a wonderful, statuesque plant; much appreciated in cottage garden situations, where their elegant stance towering above the range of annuals, bi-annuals and perennials adds beauty and height to the rich pattern of the garden. These tall erect plants, bearing long tubular flowers in a range of lovely shades ranging from white, pink, rose, lavender, and lemon through to purple, some having a combination or two or more colours, are certainly well worth growing.

On the inside of each flower, conspicuous spots of crimson, burgundy or chocolate, interlining the throat and in all cases the individual flowers are about the size and shape of a thimble. The origin of the botanical name, Digitalis, is based upon the Latin word digitatus for finger. Perhaps this is because the thimble-like blooms fit a human finger in the way a thimble does.

The common English foxglove D. Purpurea (Scrophulariaceae) can easily attain a height of 4 - 5 ft. (120cm- 150cm) the purple flowers with crimson spots inside the flower can be seen in hedgerows during June and July.

The parents of the ones in my own garden just simply appeared several years ago. I was delighted to see them and their seeds produced the next generation and so it continues. Some years the seeds produce a number of white flowers, which many people prefer. I on the other hand, like the pale purple and the darker shade of purple. If I did prefer the white I would make sure that the purple plants are not allowed to shed their seeds, but I simply allow them to self-seed and wait to see what I get. Strange but they are never invasive, there are never too many seedlings, just about enough for a wonderful display in the future. That first introduction also sowed the Foxglove appreciation bug in my mind and in the subsequent years I have also added some of the hybrids to my collection.

Foxgloves are biennial; the leaves form a rosette the first year followed by the flower spike the next year. There are some excellent hybrids on the market with florets carried all around the stem. Most are shorter growing than the common foxglove some are dwarf form, with lovely pastel shades of pink, cream, and peach, though there are some stronger colours particularly good are the deep salmon and orange. If conditions are good many of the hybrids behave as short-lived perennials.

SOILS: Foxgloves prefer a nitrogen-rich sandy loam soil, well drained, in partial sun to full shade. The taller growing ones, because of their tall floral spikes, benefit from a somewhat sheltered location where they are protected from wind. On more exposed sites, plants can be staked. A spike that is blown over will usually continue to flower along the ground, but will turn abruptly upward near its end, giving it a contorted form. The dwarf varieties should be planted to the front of the border of course where they are able to show off their beauty.

CULTIVATION: It is possible to buy Foxglove plants growing in pots; these should be planted 14-18 in. (35cm-45cm) apart. The more popular way of starting your collection of Foxgloves is to grow them from seed. Start biennial foxgloves from seed in summer for bloom the next year.

Perennial foxgloves can be started by dividing and resetting clumps in early spring or autumn, but are more commonly grown from seeds. Sow the seeds in mid to late spring to get flowers the following summer. To prevent overcrowding, divide clumps after three or four years of flowering.

HYBRID VARIETIES:

'Apricot' Hardy Biennial. An outstanding introduction producing large spikes of a lovely shade of Apricot. A most unusual and sought after colour. Excellent for the border in sun or part shade, and very useful as a cut flower. Flowers early summer.

'Foxy' Hardy Annual. 'Foxy' is an ANNUAL foxglove. If sown indoors late winter/early spring it flowers in summer. 'Foxy' is a dwarf variety, invaluable for exposed sites in shades of pink to white with contrasting mottled throats.

'Excelsior' Hardy Biennial. A most effective and spectacular strain of Foxgloves superb for shady shrub and tree areas, back of borders and excellent for cut flowers. They can really bring the early summer garden alive! Flowers early summer. Height 5ft.

'Primrose Carousel' Hardy Biennial. This is the first primrose-yellow Foxglove coming true from seed, which has the exciting bonus of large claret-speckled flowers which are borne all around the stem, a unique attribute in Foxgloves. Plants are approximately 30in high.

'Temple Bells' Hardy Biennial. Bright, sunlight yellow foxglove blooms for fully 2 months of summer. Although a hardy perennial, it flowers just a few months after sowing. Lovely in borders, rockeries, wild gardens in sun or part shade. Flowers summer. Ht. 30-40cm.

'Glittering Prizes' Hardy Biennial. A much sought after old traditional foxglove with flowers much larger than usual which are delightfully and exotically splashed and mottled in a good range of rich colours, purple, lilac, cream, white and rose.

'Digitalis/Mertonensis'. Hardy Biennial. Dwarfest spikes of large tubular blooms of crushed strawberry and shiny deep green foliage.

'Yellow Foxglove' (Digitalis grandiflora), Hardy Herbaceous Perennial. Spikes of sulphur yellow 2in blooms netted chocolate brown. Likes sunny or shady sites.

 


If You Love Gardening, Then Here’s How You Could Turn it into £100–£1,000 Per Week Extra Income!

 

Richard Allen has been growing and selling plants very successfully in his family run business for over 20 years. Recently he realised there was a huge opportunity for amateur gardeners to take their hobby and turn it into a profitable and enjoyable business. He’s now published a great ebook (with plenty of exciting add-ons) and I am more than happy to give it a glowing review in these pages.

You see, I think Richard is onto something here.

Gardening in the UK is a £5bn a year industry. Thanks to social-economic changes such as an increase in home ownership, higher disposable incomes and an ageing population, gardening is a huge and growing market. And surely with the recession biting, people will be attracted to simpler and cheaper pursuits like gardening.

I checked Amazon and did some research. There really is very little information on how serious hobbyists could start their own horticultural business. So Richard saw the gap and went for it. And I think he has done a cracking job.

Take a look here

The marketing promotion is extremely well put together, but without any of the usual hype. It’s honest, straightforward and clearly states what’s on offer. Richard has all the credentials and definitely knows what he’s talking about.

The earnings claims are realistic – Richard suggests you could make a £100 weekly side income from just three or four hours a week all the way up to £1,000 a week from a full time operation. Through the manual he gives the essential advice you need for choosing, buying and growing plants plus specific strategies for selling plants to both the public and trade.

OK, by the very nature of the subject, there’s no way Richard can cover every aspect of the actual cultivation process. And if you are a complete newbie, I suspect you will need to partner with someone who already has ‘green fingers’.

But what makes this ebook so strong for me, is how Richard devotes most time to the commercial side of things. He shows how you can sell plants from home, at car boot sales, farmers’ markets and craft and plant fairs. He even shows how you could joint venture with your local garden centre or sell direct to the public via eBay!

To really get this business started, you’re going to need land – a minimum of 20ft by 20ft that could be devoted to growing your plants. You will also need transport including a trailer to move your plants around, although you could certainly hire that in the beginning.

Yes, it is possible to grow and sell all your own plants and spend no money, but it could take up to two years before you see a profit. Richard solves this by showing you how you could take an initial £200 investment and turn it into £1,000 then £5,000, just through buying and selling plants.

More than the money, this is very much a lifestyle business. Although I’m no gardener and lead a hectic urban lifestyle, the gardeners I know are invariably relaxed, stress-free and do something that is physically and intellectually challenging as well as emotionally rewarding.

This opportunity is perfect for any keen gardener, retirees, stay at home mums (and dads) and even the whole family.

Oh, and Richard also throws in an extra blueprint on a grass cutting business which in itself could be a great stand alone part-time money-spinner! Plus you get six months worth of free email consultation, an interview CD, free ebook updates for a year and monthly email updates.

And for just £27, this is a bargain – especially when you consider there is nothing like this available.

Bottom Line: A great introduction for keen gardeners to turn their hobby into a profitable plant selling business.

More Here:  How to Create A Business From Growing & Selling Plants


 

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